Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/289—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs
  • H01M50/293—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs characterised by the material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/00271—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
  • B60H1/00278—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit for the battery
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/03—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits
  • F28D1/0366—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits the conduits being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements
  • F28D1/0383—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits the conduits being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside the conduits
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
  • F28F3/12—Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/61—Types of temperature control
  • H01M10/613—Cooling or keeping cold
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/62—Heating or cooling; Temperature control specially adapted for specific applications
  • H01M10/625—Vehicles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/64—Heating or cooling; Temperature control characterised by the shape of the cells
  • H01M10/643—Cylindrical cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/655—Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
  • H01M10/6556—Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange
  • H01M10/6557—Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange arranged between the cells
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/60—Heating or cooling; Temperature control
  • H01M10/65—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells
  • H01M10/656—Means for temperature control structurally associated with the cells characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
  • H01M10/6567—Liquids
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/204—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
  • H01M50/207—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape
  • H01M50/213—Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells characterised by their shape adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
  • H01M50/20—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders
  • H01M50/289—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs
  • H01M50/291—Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs characterised by their shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/00271—HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
  • B60H2001/00307—Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0028—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cooling heat generating elements, e.g. for cooling electronic components or electric devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F2210/00—Heat exchange conduits
  • F28F2210/10—Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an improved heat exchanger module for accommodating a plurality of electrochemical energy accumulators and regulating heat exchange of individual accumulators for providing a better performance of the same during operation.
• the plurality of electrochemical accumulators mostly include nickel metal hydride batteries or lithium ion batteries usually for the purpose of providing energy need of a battery operated device, in particular a battery operated vehicle.
• a more recent system for maintaining heat exchange in a battery container module works based on the principle of maintaining conductional heat exchange among a stack of batteries contained in the module. This structure, however, results in unbalanced isothermal conditions, impeding the performance of batteries contained in each stack.
• heat exchanger channels and an intended profile are incorporated into material strips by deep drawing.
• a forward-flow distribution aperture is incorporated into a first such material strip from a first heat exchanger plate and return collecting apertures are incorporated into a second such material strip.
• the latter are aligned in such a manner that webs of the two heat exchanger plates border each other, and the heat exchanger channels form heat exchanger tubes.
• the two strips are undulated, i.e. having a wavy structure, for containing a larger number of batteries in a container module.
• heat exchange channels are viable to blockage due to bending of the channels at undulation peaks.
• a heat exchanger module for accommodating and exchanging heat of a plurality of battery cells.
• the heat exchanger module comprises a flow inlet, a flow outlet and at least two lamination packs in fluid communication with said flow inlet and flow outlet.
• the lamination pack according to the present invention comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a central plate having cutouts forming flow channels when said central plate is located in between said first and second plates.
• the first, second and central plates of the lamination pack are undulated to have a wavy cross section in order to accommodate as many battery cells as possible in a fixed volume.
• Primary object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger module for containing a plurality of battery cells, said heat exchanger module eliminating the drawbacks outlined in the background of the invention above.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger module capable of maintaining even isothermal conditions inside the battery container.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger module which has one fluid inlet and one fluid outlet for reducing the risk of fluid leakage in the exchanger module.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact heat exchanger module which requires a reduced amount of heat exchange fluid. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger module which helps the battery group provide a longer service life by way of maintaining balanced isothermal conditions inside the battery container. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low volume, light weight and extremely efficient heat exchanger module.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the heat exchanger module according to the present invention, where the heat exchanger is loaded with battery cells.
• Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a lamination pack according to the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a lamination pack according to the present invention.
• Fig. 4 shows an upper view of the central plate of a lamination pack according to the present invention.
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a lamination pack and a close-up view of circle-A marked in the perspective.
• Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the lamination pack of the present invention.
• Fig. 7 shows a side view of a heat exchanger module according to the present invention.
• Fig. 8 shows the upper, side and front views of a lamination pack according to the present invention.
• Fig. 9 shows upper view of an alternative embodiment of the central plate.
• Fig. 10 shows upper view of an alternative embodiment of the central plate, where the central plate is equipped with peripheral chambers for enhanced heat exchange of the fluid.
• Fig. 11 shows a perspective view a heat exchanger module with the collector shown on the top.
• Fig. 12 shows a perspective view a heat exchanger module with the exploded view of the collector and a lamination pack.
• a heat exchanger module (10) loaded with a plurality of battery cells (13) is illustrated as a perspective view in Fig. 1.
• the heat exchanger module (10) is designed to contain as many battery cells (13) as possible in a fixed volume. This goal is achieved by undulating the lamination packs (20) and thereby containing a battery cell in each wavy section of the undulated lamination packs (20). While this wavy form of the lamination packs allow very compact battery containers and is therefore preferable, undulation of the lamination packs is not an essential part of the invention. Alternatively, lamination packs may be made in various different geometries for accommodating battery cells of different shapes. Each lamination pack (20) functions as an individual heat exchanger and is effective in heat exchanging in each and every battery cell (13) surrounded by said lamination pack as illustrated in the cross sectional view of a lamination pack in Fig. 2.
• heat exchanger module (10) has a flow inlet (11) and a flow outlet (12) for circulating a heat exchange fluid inside the lamination packs (20) of the heat exchanger module (10).
• the heat exchange fluid may be water or any other liquid that has convenient heat exchange properties. It is preferable that the heat exchange fluid has a sufficiently low freezing point and a sufficiently high evaporation point depending on the atmospheric conditions where device charged by the battery container is intended for use.
• the heat exchange fluid is supplied into the heat exchanger module (10) through a pump and circulated inside the heat exchanger module and then cooled or heated depending on the circumstances in an outside heat exchanger for re-circulation into the heat exchanger module (10) of the present invention.
• the lamination pack comprises a first plate (14), a second plate (16) and a central plate (15) in between said first and second plates (14,16).
• the shape of the central plate (15) is substantially similar to that of the first and second plates (14,16) except for the fact that the central plate (15) has channels (19) through which the heat exchange fluid flows.
• the channels are typically formed by cutting and removing sheet metal from the central plate (15) such that the parts cut out of the central plate (15) naturally form the channels (19) when the central plate (15) is located in between the first and second plates (14,16). Punching a metal sheet so as to form blank areas corresponding to the channels in the central plate (15) is considered to an inexpensive way of forming the central plate (15).
• the upper view of the central plate (15) of a lamination pack (20) is illustrated in Fig. 4.
• An alternative embodiment to the central plate is illustrated in Fig. 11.
• the central plate has an inflow aperture (21) and an outflow aperture (22) respectively corresponding to the inflow bore (17) and the outflow bore (18) of the first and the second plates (14,16).
• a lamination pack (20) is formed by locating the central plate (15) in between the first and second plates (14,16). Perspective view of a lamination pack is shown in Fig. 5 along with a close-up view of circle-A marked in the perspective view.
• Inflow bores (17) and an outflow bores (18) of the first and the second plates (14,16) perfectly match the inflow aperture (21) and the outflow aperture (22) of the central plate. These apertures and bores are perfectly sealed with each other in order to avoid leakage of the heat exchange fluid inside the heat exchange module. While many materials may be used in the manufacture of the plates (14,15,16), aluminum is preferable due to its high heat transfer coefficient, low weight and very good anti-corrosion properties.
• the plates may be joined to each other with various techniques such as adhesive binding, riveting, soldering, welding, TIG, MIG, MAG or furnace welding etc.
• FIG. 6 A cross sectional view of the lamination pack (20) according to the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 6. While undulation of the plates (14,15,16) is preferable for heat exchanging cylindrical shaped battery cells (13), it might not be preferable with flat shaped batteries. Bearing in mind that most of the existing electrochemical battery cells are cylindrical in shape, the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 has been proposed with differing encompassing angles ( ⁇ ).
• the encompassing angle ( ⁇ ) as illustrated in Fig. 6 typically resembles how much of the periphery of a cylindrical battery cell (13) is encompassed or enveloped by the undulated lamination pack (20).
• the encompassing angle ( ⁇ ) might be increased or decreased to separate the battery cells (13) apart from each other or to make them closer to each other depending on the needs.
• the encompassing angle ( ⁇ ) in Fig. 6 is approximately 110°, i.e. covering almost 30% of the entire periphery of a cylindrical battery cell (13).
• battery cell (13) is in fact encompassed by two different lamination packs (20).
• a total of approximately 60% of the entire periphery of a battery cell (13) is encompassed by two different lamination packs (20).
• the rate of 60% encompassing is found to be highest rate in terms of the area encompassed divided by the total volume of a cell.
• the encompassing angle ( ⁇ ) is preferably around 110°.
• Power output of a heat exchanger module as shown in Fig. 9 or 10 may depend on a number of factors. While the flow rate of the heat exchange fluid is one of the primary factors in terms of the power output, another parameter the thickness of the central plate (15) which directly determines the cross sectional area of the channels (19) of formed on the same. Therefore, even if the flow rate is kept constant heat exchanger modules having different power output capacities may be obtained by using central plates (15) of different thickness. Moreover, the flow channels (19) may be made wider or narrower to change the instant flow rate of the exchange fluid during the course of flow in a lamination pack (20). In another embodiment, flow channels may be cut to have totally different roadmap along the central plate (15) or the total length of the channels might be increased or decreased for changing the output capacity of the heat exchanger module (10).
• the channels are formed by the blank parts cut out on the central plate (15) is particularly important as the presence of the central plate in the mid part of a lamination pack (20) guarantees that the channels are not blocked or otherwise shrunk (due to solid thickness of the plate) at points where the lamination pack is bent to have undulations.
• the flow channels (19) in a lamination pack (20) have constant cross section and free of unnecessary static resistances or shrinks against flow of the heat exchange fluid.
• flow inlets (11) and flow outlets (12) of each and every lamination pack substantially coincides with each other, such that when a plurality of lamination packs are stacked on each other, two tubes are formed within the exchanger module (10).
• One of these tubes serve as the fluid inlet and is connected to the collector inlet (27).
• the other tube is likewise connected to the collector outlet (28) for circulation of the heat exchange fluid.
• Spacers (24) may be used in between two lamination stacks in order to improve seal in between lamination packs (20). In such case, spacers (24) shall be shaped to establish fluid communication among neighboring lamination packs. While spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to have tight fit with the lamination packs, sealants or welding may be used in order to eliminate the risk of fluid leakage.
• the collector inlet (27) and collector outlet (28) are found on the collector unit (26) as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
• This design of the fluid collector is found to be highly preferable since the heat exchange fluid is fed to the module (10) from a single location and then circulated inside the module, finally being extracted from one single point on the collector (26).
• This simple structure is particularly effective for avoiding fluid leakage in or around the exchanger module. Recalling the exchanger as proposed in US 2009/0301700, one may easily appreciate that fluid is collected at both ends of the stripes at a plurality of points where each of these is viable to leakage under pressure.
• the central plate (15) is equipped with peripheral chambers (25) for enhancing heat exchange. Since these chambers (25) are formed by cutting material from the central plate, the total weight of a lamination pack (20) is reduced. This results in a lighter product whereas the vacancies in the peripheral chambers additionally help in an increased heat flow in and out of the central plate as heat can better flow in the absence of the metal cut out of the central plate (15) for forming the chambers (25) around its periphery.
• the first, second and central plates (14,16 and 15) of heat exchanger module (10) according to the present invention may be made of a corrosion resistant material, such as an aluminum alloy.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Secondary Cells (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-07-25 TR TR201107319A patent/TR201107319A2/xx unknown
  • 2011-11-21 EP EP11796639.0A patent/EP2643870B1/de active Active
  • 2011-11-21 WO PCT/EP2011/070568 patent/WO2012069417A1/en active Application Filing

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